Doting mum Coleen Rooney loves to post adorable shots of husband Wayne and their three young sons on Instagram – but she has revealed that the camera phone can also be the curse of their celebrity lifestyle.

And as she snaps away taking pictures of sons Kai, seven, Klay, three, and Kit, one, she tells me how footballer Wayne loathes the impact the devices had on their lives.

She says: “Aw, these camera phones – Wayne absolutely hates them.

“It’s hard being in the public eye.

“You can be sitting there having dinner with your family and someone’s taking pictures of you.”

Coleen, 30, who started dating Wayne when she was 16, has spent years in the public eye and admits the scrutiny has taken its toll on their social life.

She says: “When we do let our hair down we’ll be at home or we’ll have friends round.

"No matter what, you’ve got to be on your guard anyway, which is sad in a way, but it’s part and parcel of what we do.

“We grew up with it from a young age, we’ve learned.

“Obviously you do have slip-ups now and again but it is difficult.”

Family fun on a day out with the kids (Image: Instagram)

The last “slip-up” was in November, when Wayne, 31, was snapped looking a little the worse for wear at a Hertfordshire hotel while on international duty with the England squad,

Coleen admits she has a love-hate ­relationship with the camera phone.

She says: “It’s hard because I love taking pictures of the kids. I’m not really into selfies. It’s so easy just to get your phone out and video the baby’s first giggle.”

And her Instagram posts reveal that family comes first for Coleen.

At New Year, she posted a collage of shots of the men in her life. There’s baby Kit, snug in his car seat, her three little musketeers in matching pyjamas, and Kai and Klay in their smart school uniforms.

And, of course, there’s a picture of Wayne and the boys in the Man U strip.

Coleen and Wayne with the boys in their strips (Image: Instagram)

A couple of shots are professionally posed but most are camera phone pictures, just like any family in the country would take to record precious moments.

And down-to-earth Coleen insists that they are, at heart, just like any other family. Even though Wayne earns around £260,000 a week, the family do not rely on nannies. Instead, Coleen’s parents Tony and Colette help out when they can.

Coleen says: “I’m a hands-on mum, I like to be in control of what’s going on at home.

“Even if I’m away and my mum’s taking the kids to school I like to have their uniforms laid out, with their school books set aside the night before when my mum’s taking them. It’s for my peace of mind as well, so I know everything sorted for them.

“I’m lucky that my work projects aren’t nine to five every day – a lot of the time I can work in the North with my children. I’ve got a strong family bond, where my mum will look after the kids.

“I’ve never struggled.”

Dad Wayne plays with his kids (Image: Instagram)

And she says Wayne, who she wed in a lavish ceremony in Italy nine years ago, is a devoted dad, regularly looking after their brood so she can work or exercise.

Coleen says: “Wayne takes them to school often and he’s definitely a hands-on dad, especially with the third child, he’s really good and will regularly entertain the kids.

“Yesterday, he took Klay and Kai out and they went for tea, just the three of them, which was nice.”

Coleen reveals that she’s back to her pre-baby weight thanks to a tough exercise schedule, working out five times a week.

Thje boys cuddled up in their PJs

She says: “I’m not telling you how much I weigh, but I’m comfortable, size 10, and back to what I weighed before I had kids.

"I go to the gym three times a week with a trainer and I go to pilates twice a week. I haven’t really got the motivation to do it otherwise. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t book it in with a trainer.

“There’s nothing better for your confidence and wellbeing than going to the gym, or aiming to lose a few pounds.

“Once you get back into those jeans again you do have more confidence in yourself. I love my food. I like treats and eating out, so I try to limit the splurges to the weekends.”

The United ace is caught napping with his boys

Coleen has a strict beauty regime, but has not gone for plastic surgery or Botox, though she says: “I think Botox is ­something to look forward to in the future. It’s died down lately. It was a big thing a few years ago – who’s had plastic surgery – but it’s not talked about much any more. I do think it’s important to look after your skin, take your make-up off at night and to moisturise.

“I never worry about numbers when it comes to age, I feel younger than I am.

“But then when I look at my life and think I’ve got three kids and I’m married, I feel younger than 30. I’ve always been a confident person.”

Business-savvy Coleen has built her own fortune (Image: WireImage)

She says looking after her family and meeting her work commitments, which include promoting toy brand Lamaze, means more babies are the last thing on her mind.

She says: “I don’t know if I want more kids. Everyone always asks if I want a baby girl, but it’s quite full-on right now.

“I’m really busy being a mum and I’m not thinking about it any time soon, but I’d never rule it out.” Coleen can’t believe how quickly her kids are growing up. She says: “When I had Kai I used to say, ‘I can’t wait until he talks and walks’, and you wish them to grow up quite quickly.

The boys together (Image: Instagram)

“Whereas when I had Klay, you treasure the moments more when they’re younger. I can’t believe Kit’s coming up to one.”

Business savvy Coleen has built her own business empire through endorsement and magazine deals and fronting her own ITV show Coleen’s Real Women.

She is rumoured to be worth around £14million in her own right.

Coleen with the Mirror's Hannah

And she makes sure her kids know their world-famous dad is not the only worker in the house. She says: “I’ve got books made with all the brands I’ve worked with over the years, so Kai goes through them to look and see what I’ve done too. It’s nice.

“For me it’s always been exciting being a woman working in the business world.”

The first lady of WAGs counts another first lady as a huge inspiration.

Another cute snap

She says: “I look up to Michelle Obama. She’s a mum, has a successful career and does a lot of charity work.

“My parents are massive inspirations in my life too. I respect them for the way they’ve brought me and my brothers up.

“That’s how I want my kids to feel about us when they get older – that we’ve done a good job raising them and teaching them manners.”